Josh Hamilton addresses the media at a press conference before his first game back against the Rangers. / Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Los Angeles Angels center fielder Josh Hamilton said Friday he expects to be booed during the Texas Rangers' home-opener pregame introductions, but still refuses to back down on his comments about Dallas being a football town.

"This football town thing has been an absolute nightmare,'' Hamilton said. "I'm not going to take back anything I said. I don't say anything to hurt people intentionally.''

Hamilton, speaking for 15 minutes in a press conference on his return to Texas for the first time since signing a five-year, $125 million free-agent contract with the Angels, said he never imagined that his spring-training comments would draw so much attention.

"It's one of those things where Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town,'' Hamilton said to a Dallas TV station this spring. "So the good with the bad is they're supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly.''

Hamilton said Friday: "They always know I speak the truth.''

Hamilton, who spent the last five years in Texas, says he still remembers his first year when crowds dwindled to 10,000 in the month of September during the Rangers' game.

He asked teammate Marlon Byrd where all of the fans were, and Byrd's response: "It's high school football season.''

Still, Hamilton concedes that the Rangers have never been so popular, eclipsing 3 million fans last year, and winning back-to-back pennants and earning three consecutive postseason berths.

"I had a great run in Texas, a great five years,'' Hamilton says, "and I'll never forget it. The fans were great. It was fun to be part of and help the fan base grow.''

Yet, with his late-season struggles last year, striking out 20 times in his last 46 at-bats, he'll also remember being vociferously booed in his final game.